We were lucky to catch up with Evan Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.
Evan , so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
This is a great question! Creative blocks, from my perspective, usually stem from burnout, and burnout can really break you if you don’t address it.
I usually get creative blocks when I’m overwhelmed by numerous things happening all at once.
I learned to do one thing to help blocks: BREAKS. Taking a break and stepping back from work helps me a lot. I still stalk Pinterest and Instagram for project ideas to keep my creative juices flowing. Finding new ideas actually helped me overcome blocks numerous times, and gets me fueled up to get back out in the field and create more art.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a photographer based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am the owner and founder of Planet Nave Photography, in which I specialize in editorial and couples’ photography.
What I believe is special about my business is that I focus on a dark, moody, filmy style of photos, though I am well versed in different styles, such as your warm, fuzzy, nostalgic look that is quite popular in northeastern Indiana. My brand is also unique to this part of the state, given that my brand is centered around an outer space feel. I’m super excited to start planning to add destination photography and mentorships to my list of services within the next year or two, whichever seems to be more needed or wanted by people!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would say one skill that has helped me along my photography journey is personality. I have a vast personality and can easily make people laugh. It definitely helps make new clients and myself more comfortable while doing shoots. One thing people will remember about you is your personality and the experience they with you!
An area of knowledge I think is super important is marketing and how to market yourself in what people label a “competitive market” such as photography. I personally believe in collaboration over competition, but marketing is still important in order to reach your desired audience. Think of fun ways to put yourself out there, whether it’s with Reels, TikTok, Carousel posts, creative captioning, and/or paid ads, and begin to establish your being in the industry.
A third thing that helped me in my journey was not being afraid to reach out for help from more experienced people in my field. I started photography in 2017, and I reached out to this now-Mississippi-based photographer (Michaela, I just love her!), and asked to do a mentorship, and it was extremely helpful to learn more about someone else’s experience and perspective in photography, while also being able to diversify my styles.
In terms of developing on your journey in photography, everyone has a unique style and path they may want to take. That is amazing, and I would say to never limit yourself to a certain style. Some people underestimate Pinterest (I was one of those people for the longest), but it is a phenomenal resource for inspiration and looking to branch out and explore new avenues with your work or brand. Practice is another way to better develop your skills. It doesn’t matter who or what you want to capture shots of, just do it, practice editing, get feedback, and repeat the process.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am currently looking for bookings and collaborations! I’m looking for someone who is open-minded with different ideas and poses, as well as outfits. They can live within 300 miles of Fort Wayne, Indiana, whether it’s Chicago, Louisville, Columbus, Indy, or anywhere near those cities!
You can reach me through my website, PlanetNave.com/contact, or direct email: evanmh215@gmail.com (until I set up an email address through my website)! I’m so excited to create some art with amazing people! Let’s work!
Contact Info:
- Website: PlanetNave.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/planetnavephoto
Image Credits
Evan Harris – Planet Nave Photography
